Book I : Reincarnation

Episode 5: Temples and The Past

"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days: a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements; only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed, and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken. At least thats what they said, but we know that he's alive! We can save the world and end this war!"

I cup my chin as I process what Katara had just said. We currently sat on Appa, making our way to the southern air temple.

'so, the history hasn't changed...things just seem to be happening earlier than before...faster somehow.'

I look to sokka, then to Aang, and finally back to Katara as i ponder the situation. But I quickly dismiss it and say,

"Okay, you guys asked me questions. Allow me to answer them."

The three listen closely, all attention on me.

"Who am i? My name is James...but here it is Ji Do San, I'm the avatars protector. Where'd i come from? I was reincarnated from another world."

The two water tribe siblings stare at me in shock. Aang, still flying appa, nearly falls backwards.

"Another world?"

Katara asks.

"You were reincarnated?"

Aang questions. I smile sadly, thinking of my past lives.

"Yes and yes. Twice the yes on that last one, actually."

The two water tribe siblings continue to stare at me in awe. Aang sits facing away from us, focusing on guiding Appa, and remains silent. Katara snaps out of her daze long enough to ask me a question.

"So, like, what are you? Because as far, as we know, only the avatar has the ability to reincarnate."

I give her a light chuckle.

"Yeah, that's a fair question. Well, to be honest, i dont know all the details. But i will tell you what i can."

I take a deep breath.

"So i was brought here by...what is essentially the god of this world. All they told me was that something has threw the balance off and, as a true soul, i am to act as the avatar's spiritual guide. I was born in the fire nation. I was, as the god said, blessed by a water spirit. I am both a firebender and a waterbender."

"Wait so you're fire nation?"

Sokka blurts defensively. Katara looks at her brother with contempt before turning her head, in confusion, at me.

"Okay, um, so is that why your hair is silver?"

I smile at her. She blushes and looks away.

"Yes it is. And yes i was."

Sokka gives me a weird look but says nothing. Katara looks back at me and says,

"You said twice the yes to being reincarnated, what'd you mean?"

i sigh.

"I have lived through two lives before i came to be here. In my first life i was a soldier. Yeah, my first life was pretty basic. Nothing really to tell. I mean I joined the military at 18, and stayed there till i died at 21"

Katara looks at me with a sad expression.

"H-how did it happen?"

I sigh and look up at the sky, before closing my eyes.

"I was escorting a doctor, a good friend of mine, through enemy territory. My superior used to call it a target rich zone."

A frown forms on my face as I remember.

-Ramadi, Iraq 2018 -

Our convoy of three vehicles traveled turbulently down the beat up road, the sun casting long shadows across the weathered buildings. Dust billowed in our wake, stirred by the heavy tires of our armored vehicles. I scan the rooftops, alert for any sign of movement.

"We're about to pass through Al Shaba! This is a target rich zone! Everyone be on their toes!"

I hear Lt over the radio. He sat in the front car, along with ji and two others. While i sat in the back car with Dr.Jensen and two other soldiers, a cargo truck in between us. My focus is turned out the window as we pass by crumbling buildings and destroyed cars. Locals watched from doorways and windows, their faces a mix of wariness and resignation.

The air was tense, thick with the weight of uncertainty as the convoy moved steadily, engines growling against the quiet hum of the city. Each moment felt stretched, a fragile balance between calm and chaos.

"What's wrong jimmeh, ya nervous?"

The doctor asks.

"No, eve, im not nervous. I'm..."

I trail off. Truth was, i was nervous. I was nervous about this whole mission. I was nervous about what to say to the woman who was like my sister. And i was nervous about the future. But it was a good nervousness, more like excitement.

"Hey Eve, you been okay?"

I say in a low voice and look down. She gives a small laugh and raises my head with a finger on my chin.

"I've been pretty good jimbo. But somthin tells me you haven't been."

I shake my head.

" I...remember when you asked me about the treatments?"

The woman looks up at me, concern written on her face.

"Jimbo where's this goin?"

I smile at her.

"Eve, im glad to say, i no longer have deadpool syndrome. Its gone. The-"

I am interrupted when the vehicle comes to a violent stop, jerking us all forward.

"Shit! What the hell was that?"

I yell to the driver.

"I dont know sarge, the others came to an abrupt stop in front of us!"

I heave a heavy sigh, push my comms button, and say,

"What we got Lt?"

"Some kids playing in the street. Little shits ain't moving like the rest. Go make em sergeant."

Is the reply i get. I facepalm and push the button again.

"sir, yes sir."

I put my hand down and check my weapon.

"We aren't done talkin jimbo."

Eve says in a matter of fact tone, but with a smile plastered on her face. I snort.

"I know. Be right back."

She nods and I finish checking my weapon.

"Myers, you're with me."

The female soldier nods at me as i begin to exit the vehicle. I nod back and step onto the cracked asphalt, weapon lowered but ready, surveying the area. Myers followed suit, gripping her weapon tightly. As we move down the road, i feel the eyes on us, and I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

'they're just scared, nosey, civies'

I thought to myself. I look over to Myers and notice her shaking slightly.

"Easy Mel. Cant let them know they can shake you."

The woman gives a nervous chuckle.

"Easy for you to say sarg. You aint human. Friggin steve rodgers over here."

She says the last part under her breath.

"Heard that."

"Heard what, boss?"

I smile and motion forward. We make our way to the front of the convoy, cautiously, and the two kids come into view. They sit in the middle of the road kicking a ball back and forth. I don't remember many details about them, but i do remember them wearing tattered clothing.

" Hey little brothers, can you please move long enough for us to get by?"

Myers says to them in their native language. One of them looks at her strangely for a second. I guess he was stunned that she could speak their language. But quickly he turned back around, ignoring us.

"looks like he dont wanna talk Evans."

I hear Lt's voice over the comm. I let a low growl out.

'ok kid.'

I think to myself angrily. I walk closer to the kid and say,

"look here, kid I don't have time for this. move. Now."

As the kid looks up at me we hear the sound of a mother calling her sons name, and his eyes dart left before he leans to look around me. I follow his eyes and see a woman standing a little ways down the street, then look back at him. He looks back up at me, hocks up a loogie, and spits at my feet before both boys run off.

"little shits."

Myers sighs.

"Captain America, you are not."

I stick my tongue out then turn and start walking back to the transport vehicle. Myers laughs and follows behind. An odd feeling starts to churn my stomach as we walk. I grip my weapon tightly as my eyes dart to and fro. When i reach the door, i stop, the tip of my boot just under the vehicle. I don't know what, but something, call it intuition or whatever, but it told me to look down. A soft blue glow shines on my boot.

"What the-"

As I realize what it is, i see myers get in. I try to play it off. I open the door and prop my foot on the lip, pretending to tie my shoe, i duck my head down and discreetly hit my comms.

"Lt..we got a bomb."

My whispered warning is met with a short silence followed by static. I look up to the front of the vehicle and see Myers horrified face.

"Lt.?"

"When the fuck did they...Don't let them know you know. Get in the car, grab the doctor, and everyone get ready to move. And for a fight... they're bound to be all around us."

I nod, stand up, and climb in the vehicle without closing the door

"Did you say there is a feck-"

I grab Eve's hand, pull her across the seat, and into my lap.

"Yes!"

I turn my body, kick my legs out, and grip eve tight.

"Eve,"

I look into her eyes and smile.

"You got this!"

Unfortunately, as we all start rushing out of the car, the explosive goes off.

-present-

"Im not quite sure what happened next. Its hazy. I remember someone calling my name, telling me to wake up, and fire burning."

Katara looks sadly at me, i hear Aang sniffing, and even sokka gives me a soft look.

"Yeah, its real sad."

I say sarcastically.

"So you were sick and had just gotten better?"

Sokka asks.

I nod.

"Damn thats rough."

sokka says. I crack a smile at his comment and say,

"Yeah... "

My smile fades soon after.

"But the worst part is, i don't know if any of them made it. To be honest, I've never asked...I don't think i want to know."

Aang nods and says,

"yeah i know that feeling."

i nod back.

"so...what happened next?"

i sigh in response to Katara's question.

"So...I died, then bam, im a baby that was just born. Yep, didn't get an explanation or anything. I just woke up as an infant in a new world, that i knew nothing about, with all the memories of my life before."

"That must have been hard."

Aang says and turns towards me. I nod.

"It was. But I managed. At first i thought it may have been some kind of mistake. Or that maybe i was supposed to atone for all the lives i took."

I look to the sky and smile sadly.

"Sometimes i still think thats why i've been doing this."

After I finish talking sokka throws up his hands and shouts,

"But you were a soldier, it wasn't your fault, that's what happens in war, people die! The people you fought against, their blood isn't on your hands."

I look at Sokka for a moment before laughing heartily. I stop laughing abruptly as my guilt returns.

"I know im not at fault Sokka. But wars aren't as black and white as you think. There are never just bad guys and good guys. There are only people. And thier blood is definitely on my hands."

I say in a somber voice, pausing a moment before continuing.

"Many soldiers wish not to do the horrible things they do, but have to. Maybe their families are being threatened. Maybe they have been brainwashed from a young age into thinking that they are somehow fighting for thier country, fighting to keep those they love safe. It really doesn't matter why they fight, in the end as a soldier we kill other soldiers, other people, and we have to live with that. Its not a matter of whos fault it is. No. Its a matter of the memories, the feelings, of killing another person and having to live with it."

Sokka just stares at me. I sigh.

"Sokka, i came to terms with the feeling long ago. My pain is now just a reminder, an atonement, for my transgressions against my fellow man. Besides i know thats not the case now."

I look to the sky and try to remember some of the poem eve had told me.

"For we are the dammed, The dammed are we. We are the dammed and shall never know peace...Or something like that."

i hear Sokka make a confused noise and look in his direction.

"What does that even mean?"

He asks.

"A poem...has many meanings, to many different people... But to me, it means that those of us who carry burdens of past sins, regardless if we are forgiven or not, regardless if we are at fault or not, shall never truly be at peace, and we must live with that."

They all three turn their sad eyes on me. I give them a small smile.

"Don't look so sad. Like I said, I've come to terms with it long ago."

I shift my weight and find a more comfortable position.

"As i was saying, i had a hard time at first but i got through it. I grew up, for the second time, in a big city called waterdeep. I was James vermilion Wingblade. My mother was a...holy soldier, and my father a...priest of sorts... But they where off fighting a war before i could even walk. My life was filled with nothing but swords training and holy scripture until i turned ten."

Aang bashfully looks at me.

"What happened when you turned ten?"

I sigh, remembering the second go round.

"I met the person who had brought me there. And was told why I'd been chosen."

-near House Wingblade, waterdeep-

In the golden light of late afternoon, i stood in the quiet clearing, hand gripping the hilt of my small sword. I furrow my brow in concentration, beads of sweat tracing lines down my face. The rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze was the only sound, save for the rhythmic swish of the sword as it cut through the air.

"Young master, it's getting late, you shouldn't be out too much longer."

The wingblade family servant, a half-elf named Valnala, tells me after appearing out of nowhere. I drop my sword as i jump.

"Shit Val, don't sneak up on me like that. But okay, I'll only be a few more minutes."

She nods at my response and sits in the grass a small distance away from me. Her golden hair gently sways with the wind as her cerulean eyes fall upon me. I smile awkwardly, turn, and pick my sword back up.

'ok, just a few more times jimbo.'

I think to myself. I plant my feet firmly, just as my instructor had taught me, feeling the strength in my legs and the balance in my stance. With a deep breath, i step forward, swinging the sword in a smooth arc. My movements were precise but not yet perfect—sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow. My arms ached from the hours of practice, but I pushed through, determined to master every strike, every block.

'almost done!'

I imagined myself in battle, facing opponents far stronger than me, but with every swing, i felt myself growing more confident, more powerful. I pause for a moment, looking at the tip of my sword as it hovered in the air, then strike one final time. The sound of clapping fills the air.

"You're getting better."

I turn to look at the woman and she smiles at me brightly.

"Yeah, guess i am."

I say as I sheepishly rub the back of my head. She stands and brushes the grass,dirt, and leaves from her dress.

"Well then, are you ready?"

I nod and sheath my sword. As we begin to head to the wingblade home, Valnala starts to give me some pointers.

"When you go for stabbing strike you should lock your wrist firmly. You want to keep the blade as steady as possible, because most foes you will face will be heavily armored."

she pretends to stab in front of herself, with enough force for me to feel the wind, and smiles at me. I smile back nervously.

'Just how strong is Val?

I think to myself. Valnala laughs at my expression.

"Do not worry, young master, I am your protector. So you will never be at the end of my blade."

I am taken aback.

'Can she read my mind, too?'

I think to myself and take a small step away from my family servant. She laughs even harder and stops walking. I take a few more steps before stopping and turning toward her. I look at her uninterestedly and say,

"what is your damage, shorty?"

she stops her laughing and says,

"hehe...no I can't read your thoughts so much as i can feel them. My magic allows me to...connect with people and feel their emotions. I just make guesses based on those emotions."

My eyes widen at her words. She tilts her head, smiles. I nod, and am about to speak again, when Vanala's face suddenly drops and she disappears. Next thing i know, i feel her hands wrap my waist, and get jerked back as she jumps with me in tow. A split second later an explosion rocks the ground where i once stood. Dust fills the air, making me chough.

"what the hell was that!"

I yell in between coughs. Valnala simply pulls me behind her and draws her sword, pointing it at the now disappearing cloud. After the dust cloud fully disperses, i see a man hunched over gripping a sword that is embedded in the stone crater.

"Val wha-"

She grips my shirt tightly, stopping my words.

"When i tell you to...run."

I try my best just to nod and do as she saysand not make jokes. We both watch as the man turns towards us, revealing himself fully. He was dressed in black from head to toe. His face was hidden behind a mask, only his sharp eyes visible.

"Its a freaking ninja...how!?"

I blurt without thinking. The ninja lays eyes on me and grips his sword, a katana, in one hand tightly. He lowers his stance, poised for a quick strike.

"Get ready."

I grab her shoulder and say,

"kick his ass Val."

The woman snickers but still scolds me.

"Language young master...but i will still head your request."

Val whispers fo me. In a flash, the ninja was gone, a blur of shadow racing across the road. His katana glinted in the twilight as he swung it toward us. Val quickly raised her hand, and a wall of ice shot up from the ground, intercepting the blade with a sharp clang. I have little time to stare in wonder as the woman shouts at me.

"Now, james!"

I scamper to my feet and head towards the nearest gaurd house. I full sprint in the opposite direction, but i could still hear the two fighting behind me.

"And as for you, you wretched dog, im going to freeze you to the core."

I hear Val shout and the sound of an attack being thrown. I try to resist my urge to duck off into an alley, but can't. I quickly roll off the road and duck left behind some boxes in an alley.

"woah."

Was all i could say at the sight before me. The two stood opposite each other. On the left side stood the ninja, katana at the ready. On the right stood valnara, her golden hair cascading down her back, her dress shimmering like freshly fallen snow. Her cerulean eyes glowed with power, and a crystalline sword rested lightly in her left hand.

Frost clung to the air around her, turning the grass beneath her feet brittle with ice. The ninja leaped back just as shards of ice exploded from val's fingertips, sharp as daggers.

"You're too slow, little witch!"

The ninja's voice was somehow a loud whisper, deep and grumbly. He twisted in midair, avoiding them by mere inches, landing silently on the frosty ground.

Before he could counter, Val raised her sword, slashing the air, and the ground beneath him began to freeze. A thick layer of ice spread outward, threatening to trap him. But the ninja was quick. He darted to the side, throwing a handful of shuriken toward her.

With a flick of her wrist, she created a swirling vortex of snow, the shuriken vanishing into it, lost in the storm. The winds howled around her, whipping her hair, but Val's calm expression never faltered. The ninja's eyes narrowed. He circled her, calculating, waiting for an opening.

I could tell he was thinking about how she was strong in magic, but magic needed concentration to work. If he could throw off her focus, without her magic, his sneaky sword-style would be her downfall. What he and I both didn't know, however, was that Val was a Cryomancer. The strongest one this world had ever seen.

The ninja vanished again, this time using the shadows cast by the setting sun as cover. He moved like a shadow himself, flitting between the dark spots, never staying in one long enough to track. Val frowned, her breath forming clouds as she concentrated, her sword starts glowing.

"I grow weary of your running and hiding."

Val's sword started to glow even brighter. Suddenly the ninja appeared behind her, katana raised. But before he could strike, Val spun around, slamming the blunt end of her sword into the mans chest. A shockwave of cold air blasted outward, sending the ninja skidding backward. Ice began creeping throughout his body, threatening to freeze him solid.

But the ninja was not so easily caught. With a laugh the ninja turned into a shadow and dispersed, leaving behind an ice sculpture of half his body. The ninja then creepily climbed out of Val's shadow, like a demon from hell, grabing her from behind by twisting her sword arm with one hand, and wrapping the other around her neck. The shadow...clone..thing reforms in front of her and goes in for a spinning kick.

Val, with seemingly no effort, grabs the kick out of the air with her free hand. The shadowy leg freezes in her hand and spreads until the clone is,in an instant, an ice statue. Val smiles as the ninjas arms behind her started to freeze.

"You're finished. No one can outrun winter."

The ninja quickly lets go. As she turns and raises her sword for a final strike, the ninja faded back into the shadows narrowly avoiding the attack. He reconstituted a few feet away and reached into his belt and tossed a smoke bomb at her feet. The ninja laughed and said,

"who needs to outrun it. I thrive in it."

The cloud erupted, thick and black, obscuring her vision. For a moment, she hesitated, the cold swirling around her growing even more intense as she tried to clear the smoke.

"Because there is nothing colder than the shadows themselves"

Suddenly, the ninja was on her again, emerging from the smoke like a wraith. His katana flashed, striking toward her. She blocked it with her sword, but the force of the blow sent her stumbling back. Before she could recover, he struck again, this time aiming for her exposed side.

The half-elf barely managed to raise an ice shield in time, but it cracked under the force of his attack. She gasped, the cold biting into her skin as the ninja pressed the assault, each strike faster and more precise than the last.

With a cry, she summoned all her power, and a massive glacier erupted from the ground, throwing the ninja backward. Ice shot up in jagged spikes, cutting off his path. She staggered, breathing hard, her icy façade cracking along with the glacier.

The ninja stood on the other side of the newly erected ice barrier, his katana held low, his eyes fixed on her.

"what happened to all of that bravado, ice witch!?"

i could tell Val was exhausted. But the frost was clinging to the ninja, and the cold was slowing his movements. However, he was still standing. For a long moment, they stared at each other across the frozen battlefield, neither willing to give in. Val's hand tightened on her sword, her voice trembling slightly as she says,

"You can't win. This cold… it will be your end."

The ninja scoffed at her, and shifted his stance, his katana gleaming in the pale light. His eyes, dark and unreadable, held no fear.

"Feel death's shadowy embrace,"

the ninja says.

"Beasts of ice in coldest depths, grant my foes a fridgid death, let it freeze their soul with arctic dust...draconic power...Ice drake rush!"

And then, without another word, the icy barrier falls, and they charged at each other once more. As they meet in the middle, a bright light flashes, followed by a massive shockwave. The force sent me flying into the wall behind me with a loud smack. I yell out in pain.

My vision blurred from the impact. I blink my eyes to refocus them as i try to get up. I get on my hands and knees, looking to the spot the two had clashed, and see Val on her back inside the crater, the ninja standing over her. Ice shards lay scattered around the battlefield, some jutting from the road, others stuck in the sides of nearby buildings.

"No!"

I scream weakly. The ninja hears me and turns to look at me. His eyes light up and seem to almost be smiling at me. He slowly reaches down and grips Val's hair and lifts her bleeding face up for me to see. Time seems to slow as he puts his blade up to her neck.

"Val!"

I reach out to her, silently praying, no screaming, for help. Power. Thats all I remember thinking. If i had power now, i could save her. If i had power in my first life, i could have saved my comrades without dying. My eyes lock with Val's and all i see in them was fear.

not fear of death, or fear of her opponent, but fear that her sacrifice will mean nothing if he can get me next.

"R-run james!!!"

Her weak voice falls upon my ears, the ninja slowly lifts his sword for a final strike, and In that very moment all i could do was scream and close my eyes.

"Stop!!!"

The sound all around me seems to cease. But im too scared of what i'll see if i open my eyes.

"You wish for power, but you already possess all the power you need."

I hear a soothing, yet unfamiliar female voice say. I slowly open my eyes and see that the ninja and Val have been, seemingly, frozen in place. The ninja, masked ripped on his left side, reveals his twisted grin. Val's face contorted in pain as she shouts for me to run.

"W-what's going on?"

I pondered out loud.

"They are frozen by your...special skill."

The same female voice from before says. I try to shake my head, but i move as if delayed.

"Why cant i move right?"

"Because your body is not used to this power. Your being effected by your own power, albeit at a far lesser rate,"

comes the voice. I continue trying to move, only to continue lagging as if my connection was bad in a video game. The voice sighs.

"You're not very bright, are you? Look james if you want power, real power, to save those you care for you need do as i say."

I'm stuck with confusion. I don't understand what is happening, much less what the voice means.

'What does she mean do as she says?'

I think to myself before trying to speak,

"I-i dont-"

The voice cuts me off with,

"Focus on your soul, james. Focus on what it is you truly desire. What is it you fight, oh so, hard for?"

I didn't know what to do. I was in a panic. My mind wouldn't stop racing, so i just blurt out what felt right at the time.

"I want to save Val! I want to save those I failed to save in my past life! My friends. My family. I talk a big game, i laugh, i joke...but inside im terrified... i fight so hard because I refuse to be alone. Call it selfish but,"

I can feel the tears in my eyes slowly start to well. Ever so slowly they pool up.

"I WANT TO SAVE THEM ALL!!!"

My tears start to flow freely. My body starts to get lighter as I slowly stand to my feet. I stand hunched over as i feel a strange power flow through me.

"Status unlocked: Champion of the Gods."

Comes the same voice as before, only more robotic, and less human.

"Special skill unlocked:Cronus pulse. Temporary celestial override engaged. Percentage temporarily raised from 5% to 40%."

My body glows with a bright, golden light for a brief moment before subsiding to a soft golden aura around me.

"What, is this?"

I ask the voice. To which It responds with,

"This is your power, the power of time."

I shake my head in disbelief.

"How?"

was all i was able to say.

"Every god/goddess on the council choose a champion. You are mine."

I still don't understand what she means after her comment.

"Why? And who are you."

A shimmering image appears before me, waving as if caught in the wind. Slowly it stabilizes until standing before me is a beautiful young woman. Her hair, a platinum blonde color, falls around her face in long silky strands. It stops just above her golden armored chest.

"I am the goddess Athena. And I choose you because you are special. You contain a true soul, and while in your old world that means nothing, in every other world it gives you great power. You, and only a handful of others, have these. It makes you powerful heroes."

I don't know what to say. Im stuck. But then i look over to the frozen scene of the ninja about to cut down my caretaker. My friend. And i lose it.

Rage takes over me and I forget all about the conversation i was in the middle of.

"System warning: User attempting full override!"

My vision turns a deep red as i step forward. The goddess looks at me worryingly ans says,

"Thats not good."

The ground beneath my foot cracks and sizzles as i take another step forward.

"Kill him."

"Access den- n-g-Granted: Temporary Hero override engaged. New skill unlocked: Aries Wrath...Warning: percentage rasied to 100%. User body at risk of critical failure."

I hear a new, more demonic, voice whisper in my head, and ignore the computerized one.

"Don't let him take her. He can't have her."

I take another step forward, and somehow cause the ground to light aflame.

"You don't want to be alone, do you?"

"No!"

Comes my own voice, though if it hadn't come directly from my mouth, I wouldn't have known it. My voice echoed, overlain with the same demonic voice i had just heard.

"Good. Now show them who you really are."

-present day-

"I blacked out after that. When i came to, i was in the churches medical facilities. Val sat beside me. But from then on, she never spoke of that day to me...Or at all for that matter."

All four of us sat quiet atop appa. I looked out into the horizon as we drifted by the clouds.

"So, you still lost what you were fighting for?"

Katara's voice broke my thoughts. I turn to look at her and nod and give her a sad smile.

"The goddess i spoke to later explained that every true soul has two sides. A light side, and a dark side. A balance if you will... she told me that once my dark side took over I instantly killed the ninja...by ripping his head from his shoulders with my bare hands."

The three young adults look at me with a mix of horror, sadness, and shock.

"Val must have been terrified of me. One second she is about to die by the hands of that ninja... the next i was standing over them both, holding the ninjas severed head...Blood gushing onto me and her as i laughed maniacally."

I let my mind drift to thoughts of my past mistakes and look back off into the distance. A speck of black catches my eyes.

'huh...we shouldn't be anywhere near there yet.'

I think to myself and turn back to the group.

" I know you all have questions, but i can finish this some other time. We are nearing the southern air temple"

Behind me a tall mountain range with clouds covering thier peaks comes into view. Aang gets an excited look and shouts,

"The Patola Mountain range! He's right, We're almost there!"

Appa flies up the mountain and into the clouds. Aang holds onto the reins tightly as Appa rapidly ascends while Katara, whose eyes are closed, and Sokka hold on tight to Appa's fur and saddle respectively.

The bison flies over a last ridge that is covered with trees. Behind said ridge sits a floating temple. A long snowy trail winds all through the dilapidated fortress.

"Damn...this place looks like shit."

I say as we approach.

As we reach the temple and disembark, Aang pulls me off to the side when the other two weren't paying attention.

"So...your dark side... could it ever reemerge? Because i made a promise that i'd keep Katara and Sokka safe."

I smile and rub the back of my neck.

"First off, im not the one putting them at risk.Secondly , naw kid, it hasn't shown up since that day. Much like your Avatar state, before the avatar learns to control it that is, it only comes when i lose control of my emotions..."

Aang looks at me suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

"And how do you keep from losing control?"

"It's simple Aang... I made a promise too... A promise that i'd never feel anything for anyone ever again."

Aang's expression turns from suspicious to worried instantly. I continue.

"But don't think that means im evil, or apathetic... i just dont get attached or let things get under my skin...This is my mission Aang, nothing more."

I turn away from the avatar and ball my fists.

"Now go face your demons... we will be waiting here for you."

As Aang ascends the winding path, up to his original home, i speak to the watertribe siblings.

"You guys should rest up, aang wont be long."

I turn to go sit off by myself, but Katara quickly interjects with,

"What will he find up there?"

I stop in my tracks and sigh.

"What he finds up there isn't pretty... all he will find up there...is the ugly truth..."

And with that i walk off, not wanting to speak on the subject further. But under my breath, i say what i know they can't handle yet.

"That all the power in the world means nothing...No one can save everyone... and that our actions always have consequences.

"I can feel his presence."

A deep, looming, demonic voice echoes through out the massive throne room. The room is lit by a massive brazier that sits before the throne, just barely revealing the details of it. Atop said throne sits a lone man, obscured by the shadows cast by the flame.

"Yes, it seems he has awakened."

Comes the man's more human, yet more creepy voice.

"Your good for nothing son will fail."

The human voice chuckles.

"I know that. I remember what you have shown me! But he will slow down the boy's progress."

The demonic voice hums in thought.

"A new player has stepped onto the board."

The man snorts.

"Im aware of Raava's interference."

"Why not send the girl, she and her three little pets could easily rip them to shreds!"

The man scoffs at the demon voice.

"Come now Vaatu, you know better than i, that if we kill the avatar at the wrong time he will just be reborn again."

"Hmmm, correct...However we could chain the avatar up until the time is right and just kill the rest."

A hardy laugh comes from the man.

"No,Vaatu, I want to watch him squirm until the very end."

It is Vaatu who laughs this time.

"Suit yourself, Ozai. But, just know, if this plan blows up in your face... i will collect on your debt."

Ozai, lord of the fire nation, leans forward illuminating his face, and stares into the flames on the alter before him. Laughing maniacally as he plots his next moves.

AN: So...I've set up a discord with some concept art for some characters...so if you wanna check it out here it is https/discord.gg/zDT4PqUQ and if not cool...Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter, peace.

-Sage